Government will become unstable if 3 Deputy CM posts are not created: Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru (IANS). Internal strife seems to be increasing in the ruling Congress in Karnataka. Now Cooperative Minister KN. Rajanna has said that if three posts of Deputy CM are not created, the government will become ‘unstable’.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Rajanna stressed on creating three deputy CM posts in the state to win more seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
He says that it is wrong to understand that CM Siddaramaiah is motivating me to talk on this matter. I have not met CM Siddaramaiah in recent times. It is also wrong to say that if three more Deputy CMs are made then Deputy CM DK Shivakumar will lose his prominence.
If Congress wins less seats in the parliamentary elections, the government will become unstable. The high command had considered public opinion on several occasions after the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.
He said that I have asked the high command to create three Deputy CM posts to ensure a stable government and win more Lok Sabha seats. This is not a statement made with ill intentions, it is in the interest of the party.
He said that six state governments were dismissed during the tenure of the Janata Party government. We have to understand this. I am not with anyone and I have no selfish goals. Minister Rajanna asked why CM Siddaramaiah should seek clarification from him and said that Shivakumar is the state party chief and he can be called and interrogated.
He further said, “I have not met him because he is busy handling the Cauvery dispute. I have proposed creation of three Deputy CM posts. One should be from the oppressed class and the other two should be selected from Lingayat and minority communities.
Minister Rajanna claimed that he was speaking with the view that the government would face instability in case of a setback in the Lok Sabha elections. He said, “What is wrong in demanding three deputy CMs. I have proposed this to the high command in the interest of the party.”
He further said that Lok Sabha elections are important and I have proposed a strategy for victory. Caste plays a major role in elections and if leaders representing major communities are made deputy CMs, it is good for the party.
I am ready to take any challenge and there is no question of going back on my words. There are instances where state governments are dissolved after the Lok Sabha elections.
This happened during the time of former Karnataka Chief Ministers late BD Jatti and Ramakrishna Hegde. What is the guarantee that it will not be repeated this time? In this background, leadership should be given according to the community.
Sources say the Siddaramaiah camp is planning a strategy to weaken the position of Deputy CM Shivakumar, who had taken up the challenge of winning more than 20 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and staking claim for the post of CM in the state.
The minister is a Rajanna Siddaramaiah loyalist and a powerful leader from the backward community. He had challenged the family of former PM HD Deve Gowda and ensured Deve Gowda’s defeat from Tumakuru Lok Sabha seat in the last Lok Sabha elections.
